Irrigation Projects of Maharashtra: Salient features

Irrigation can be defined as the artificial/false form of agriculture/cultivation. To Be more precise, irrigation is the artificial/false way or application of putting or watering the plants and soil in different ways like pumping, spraying, and tubes. Irrigation is very helpful in the areas where there is a lack of rain, or the rainfall is low in the area. There are many states in India where irrigation is important and highly practised, one of which is Maharashtra. The Gadadgad medium irrigation project is one of the most renowned irrigation projects in Maharashtra and India.

Irrigation in Maharashtra

Maharashtra can be said as the leading state in agriculture. Agriculture here includes irrigation, as Maharashtra is the biggest sector for irrigation in India. The total potential for irrigation in Maharashtra is 8.96mha (MHA- Million hectares allies/abbreviation.) which again comprises 1.20mha from MIS and 3,65 from MIG 4.10mha from MMI, which means that around 6.40 percent of the total irrigation of the country happens in Maharashtra. As irrigation is highly practised in Maharashtra, there are many different ways in which it takes place. Namely, canal irrigation, tank irrigation, and well irrigation. There are a lot of projects on irrigation in Maharashtra that are completed, and some are ongoing too.  The Gadadgad medium irrigation project, The Galhati medium irrigation, and the Gadnadi medium irrigation project.

• Canal Irrigation

Canal irrigation is considered the most important type of irrigation in India. It is the main waterway that brings water from other water resources to the area where the irrigation takes place. It covers a large area for irrigation.

• Tank Irrigation

Tank irrigation is practised across the small streams by constructing mud that helps the reservoir to be small, which helps in collecting excess water during the rainy season. It is mostly used or practised in the southern areas of India and near the plateau regions.

• Well Irrigation

Well irrigation is similar to that of the well that is dug to provide water supply to a sector of the population. The tubes are hooked under the ground and sprinkled in the field when needed.

Irrigation Projects in Maharashtra

There are a lot of projects on irrigation that have been completed in Maharashtra, and some are still going on. The irrigation projects are mostly done on the streams of the rivers or the place where a dam is located. Listed here are some of the irrigation projects of Maharashtra.

•  Gadadgad Medium Irrigation Project    

The Gadadgad Medium Irrigation Project is a type of medium project. It can also be called a reservoir or storage kind of an irrigation project. The main purpose of the project is to provide irrigation to the area near the river Gadadgad. The river associated with the project, as mentioned in the name of the project, is the river Gadadgad. The project is completed. It is on the basins of the river Godavari.

• The Galhati Medium Project

Another important irrigation project in Maharashtra is the Galhati medium project. The above irrigation project is also completed. The main purpose of the project, as mentioned, is irrigation only. The river that is associated with the same is the Galhati river, situated at Baraswada, Ambad, Jalna district of Maharashtra. The basin that is involved with the project is the river Godavari. 

• The Gadnadi Medium Project

One of the most important irrigation projects that are still going on in the state of Maharashtra is the Gadnadi medium project.  It is also a type of medium project. A medium project can also be termed the storage or reservoir project. The basins that are involved with the project are Tadri and Tapi. Precisely the west-flowing river of the basins.

Importance of Irrigation

• It maintains the landscapes and the landscape areas.
• It mostly helps in growing agricultural crops
• It helps in the agriculture of the areas which are dry and are unable to get proper amounts of water for crop growing or agriculture.
• Irrigation is also important in times when there is less rainfall in the country. Then the practice of it increases as the plants and the crops need water for the proper growth of the plant or the crop.
• It is a healthy practice for crop production in dry areas.

Conclusion

Irrigation can be termed as one of the most powerful tools in the agriculture industry. It is helpful in more ways than one. The agriculture of a country also helps in reducing the poverty line. The crop and food production of the country increases. The state of  Maharashtra is the biggest irrigation sector in India. The main crops that are grown in Maharashtra are bajra, wheat, rice, tur, mung, and many others. This was all about the overview of the irrigation in Maharashtra and its important irrigation projects like the Gadadgad medium irrigation project. ETC.